Delight at last as Brockley not a patch on Dunmow

Dunmow CC are celebrating after picking up an impressive victory at Brockley on Saturday in the Two Counties Championship Division Three.

Brockley won the toss and put Dunmow into bat. Young openers Luke Swanston and Oli Rooney got Dunmow off to a steady start taking them to 70 without loss in the 20th over, before Swanston holed out to deep square leg for 35.

A rapid 25 from James Reid then upped the tempo, before also picking out the same man in the deep. Nick Rooney then joined his brother at the crease, and the twins continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over before Oli Rooney was finally bowled for 60.

A cameo at the end from Paul Reid took the Dunmow score to a competitive 168-5 from their overs.

The Dunmow bowlers got off to a great start, with Joe Reed caught behind off Rich Cross in the third over for nought. The wicket was key as Reed had already scored 100 against Dunmow earlier in the season.

Openers Cross (2-9) and James Reid bowled with pace and control and were unlucky not to pick up more than two early wickets. Josh Rix then bowled a tight line and was rewarded by bowling two Brockley batsmen.

Leg-spinner Nick Rooney then took full advantage of a turning wicket by tearing through the Brockley middle order to all but remove any hopes of them reaching the target. Fellow spinner Andy Strong (1-28), also joined the action from the other end, and the pair bowled 14 overs in tandem continually increasing the required run-rate.

Brockley were bowled out for 135 in the 43rd over, with Dunmow winning by 33 runs.

Opener Fisher was the only Brockley man to put up any resistance, falling for 70.

Nick Rooney finished with great figures of 5-30 from 14 overs, with his brother Oli Rooney picking up three stumpings and a catch.

On Saturday Dunmow host Haverhill, 1,30pm start.